The Land Report

Summer 2017

The Magazine of the American Landowner is an essential guide for investors, landowners, and those interested in buying or selling land. The award-winning quarterly is known for its annual survey of America's largest landowners, The Land Report 100.

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S U M M E R 2 0 1 7 | The LandReport 89
LANDREPORT.COM
Yet it's only when Kossler shares a second
anecdote that the Turner Ranches' mission
statement and its balance of commerce and
conservation comes into focus.
"A year ago, we had a catastrophic fire on
the Z Bar Ranch in Kansas. It encompassed
450,000 acres and burned off 96 percent of
the Z Bar. Our bison herd there is 800 cows
and a complement of yearlings and breeding
bulls. But we lost just six animals. Why so
few? Because of our prairie dogs. By nature,
prairie dogs overgraze. That's why so many
ranchers consider them pests. They kill off
perennial vegetation and leave bare ground
and burrows. Which is why the bison went
to the prairie dog town. They hunkered
down where there was no grass to burn,
and the fire blew right around them. It was
hot and fast moving, and the losses could
have been sky-high. But we manage for
habitat, and on the Z Bar, that includes non-
commodity species like prairie dogs," he says.
Ultimately, The Land Report did not select
Ted Turner as its 2017 Legacy Landowner
for a single accomplishment, such as assem-
bling the most diverse portfolio of private
land nationwide or championing the bison
and building the world's largest private herd.
For that matter, it wasn't for a series of
accomplishments. It was because of his
attitude – "his incredible enthusiasm," to
reiterate the phrase John Malone used.
That enthusiasm has enabled him to
impact millions on earth who don't know
his household name, don't recognize his
famous face, and aren't familiar with a single
one of his accomplishments.
"Ted has done more for humanity with
a focus on the environment than anybody
who has ever lived," says Mike Phillips.
"Now, let's think about this for a moment.
You can forget everybody that lived before
1850. Forget them all. No one who lived
before 1850 counts because they weren't too
terribly concerned about the humanization
of the planet, the degradation of the planet
through human activities. So we're only
talking about contemporary folks. Then
you think about Theodore Roosevelt or
Jimmy Carter. They both did tremendous
things, but they did so as public servants.
You think about groups like The Nature
Conservancy. They do beautiful work, but
they're a member-based organization.
So show me, find me, tell me one private
individual who has done more for humanity
with a focus on the environment besides
Ted Turner," Phillips asks.
And where does the impetus come from
to make such an earth-changing impact on
your fellow man? Taylor Glover volunteers
the answer.
"Bringing ecosystems back into balance
by reintroducing native species like bison
and rainbow trout is a virtuous cycle that
excites Ted," he says.
2 0 1 7 L e g a c y L a n d o w n e r
TURNER
ENTERPRISES